Football game with superimposed cards



United States Patent Richard C. Thornton 702-19th St. NW, Washington,D.C. 20006 [21 Appl. No. 804,240

22] Filed March 4, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 15, 1970 [72] Inventor [54]FOOTBALL GAME WITH SUPERIMPOSED CARDS Primary ExaminerAnton O. OechsleAssistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro Attorney-Cushman, Darby & C ushmanABSTRACT: A game simulating the sport of footbalL Randomly occurringplays such as kicks are developed by rolling dice and relating the rollcount to a chart having play information thereon. However, the majorityof plays in an actual football game are run from scrimmage, and for suchplays, the invention provides a number of play cards each having anoffensive play thereon, the cards being individually selected by theoffensive player and masked from his opponent. The mask is a masteroverlay card having areas marked thereon to represent the possiblepositions for offensive and defensive men. These areas are keyed to allof the play cards. The selected play card and mask are superimposedbeneath a transparent sheet so that the mask is visible, and theopposing players each selectively position eleven objects in registrywith areas on the mask to set the offensive and defensive alignments.The mask is then withdrawn without moving the play card to therebyexpose the selected play and to indicate whether the defense has beenpositioned to intercept the offensive man indicated on the play card ashandling the ball. The sequence and number of plays run by each playerare determined substantially in accordance with the usual rules offootball.

PATENIED BED! 519m SHEET 1 [1F 3 INVENT OR Al /(A4029 fi 0,6402

ATTORNEYS I r 1 FOOTBALL GAME Wl'II-I SUPERIMIOSEI) CARDS The sport offootball for many years been reduced to various forms of parlor gameswhich can'be played by a limited number of persons. However, gamesdeveloped in the past usually rely heavily on the element of chancerather than an understanding of the sport; For example," the use ofspinners, dice, random selection of situation cards or player posi-' isto a greatmeasure dependent on an understanding of the basic rules offootball, the capabilities'ofthe individualoffensive and defensive men,and the exercise of sound strategy.

Briefly, the football game constituting the present invention is dividedinto two basic types of plays: 4

1. those randomly occurring, such as f kicking plays (kickoffs, andreturns, punts andl'returns; and field goal and extra point attempts),fumbles, penalties, etc.; and 2. plays run from scrimmage (rushes-andpasses). The latter by far comprises the majority of plays in an actualfootball game, and it is to this type of play that the invention isespecially directed. More particularly, the 'offensive player issupplied with a number of cards each having a different rush.

or pass play illustrated thereon. The offensive player selects the cardbearing the play he believes will be'the most successful in theparticular situation in which his'teamfmds itself. He then masks hisselected play card withamaster card having a number of areas printedthereon representing possible positions for objectsrepresenting'offensive and defensive men. These areas are keyed inlocation to all "of the offensive play cards. The sandwich comprisingthe selected play card and the mask is positioned beneath a transparentsheet. The offensive player then locates eleven objects representing histeam in registry with eleven of the areas on the mask, including thearea keyed to the individuals indicated on the selected play card ashandling the ball. The defensive player observing the alignment of theeleven objects of his opponent evaluates the offensive playpossibilities and positions eleven objects representing defensive men inregistry with eleven otherjareas on the mask in an attempt to interceptthe path of the'ball shown on the selected play card. The mask is thenremoved from the sandwich leaving the selected play card intact'.The'players at that time are able to view the play card and thealignment of the defense to determine whether the selectedplay issuccessful. The foregoing procedure is repeated for'each allotted playfrom scrimmage. For far less frequently occurring plays such as kicks,the element of chance is introduced to the game inasmuch as the playersroll dice and relate the rolls to a chart which indicates'the results ofthe play. '-I

The invention will be described in further detail by reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

The housing comprises a rectangular base 12 having a wall I4 extendingupwardly therefrom along three edges of the base. A rigid transparentsheet 16 of substantially the same size as base 12 is secured to theupper surfaceof wall- 14. Thus, base 12 and sheet 16 are maintained inspaced relationship and define the major surfaces of housing having'anopen end to pennit access to the interior of the housing.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate two superimposed cards within housing 10. Theseare an offensive play card 20 and a master card 18. The latter hasindicia on its upper surface which are visible through sheet 16. Theseinclude a line of scrimmage 22, squares representing possible defensivepositions and circles-for arranging offensive alignmentsfiln theillustrative embodiment, 22 defensive positions and' I7 offensivepositions are shown. Of course, for each play only l l of each areutilized.

FIG. 3 illustrates a disclike object, or piece, 24 and a pyramidalobject 26 which serve respectively to represent an offensive and adefensive man. The diameter of disc 24 substantially'corresponds to thatof each circle'on master card I8. Similarly, the dimensions of the baseof object 26 corresponds to the squares on card 18. As the game isplayed, pieces 24 offensive cards 20 are shown in FIGS. 4 and"5 The playillus- FIG. I is a view in perspective of a card holding device used insimulating plays run from scrimmage;

FIG. 2 is a view insection taken along'llne 2-2 of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is aview in perspective of objects, or pieces,

representing'offensive and defensive men which are selectivelypositioned on the card holding device ofFlG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a typical offensive play cardillustrating arun; h r

FIG. 5 in a top plan view of a typical. offensive play card illustratinga pass; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a board used'insimulating those plays whichrandomly occur and in keeping track' of the a progress of the game.

trated in FIG. 4 is a running play in the'form of an end sweep. Thestippled line is the path taken by the ball carrier. The heavy solidline indicates the possibilitythat the ball carrier may be trappedbehind the line of scrimmage 22. In FIG. 5, a pass play isportrayed. Theflight of the ball is shown in dash lines while the pattern run by thereceiver is illustrated in stip pled line. The heavy solid lineindicates the possibility that the passer is successfully blitzed andthrown for a loss before releasing the ball. 4 r

The details of the above plays will be described more fully when therules of game are outlined hereinafter. Suffice it to say at this pointthat a number of different offensive play cards are provided to permitthe offensive player to have a wide variety of plays from which tochoosexln each case, however, the l l circles on play card 20 are keyedto 'l .l ofthe circles on master card 18. Also, themovement of theballas represented on eachcard 20 is keyed to one or more of the squares oncard 18. More particularly,in the case of a running play, the path ofthe ball carrier shown on card 20 is designed to pass beneath one ormore squares on the card 18 when cardsl8 and 20 are superimposed withinhousing 10. Similarly, the path of a pass receiver, from the time theball reaches him, is arranged to fall beneath one or more squares oncard 18 when both the master and offensive cards are in housing 10. I

FIG. 6 illustrates a board utilized in simulating randomly occurringplays and for keeping track of the progress of the game. The upper halfof the board includes'a chart 28. This chart includes side marginshaving numerals 3-18 thereon which represent all of the possibilitiesarising from the throw of three dice (not shown). Certain of theinterior columns of the chart relate to the following plays: i

l. kickoffs Y 2. kickoff returns 3. punts 4. punt returns 5. extrapoints and field goals The remaining interior columns of chart 28 areconcerned with other relatively infrequent plays whiehare inconvenientto program on play cards of the type shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Such playsinclude:

1. pass interception returns 2. fumble recoveries 3. penalties 4.breakaways The manner in which chart 28 is used will be describedhereinafter when the game rulesare given. Only a portion of the chart isshown for convenience of illustration.

The board of FIG. 6 also includes conventional means for recording theprogress of the game. On the bottom half of the board a graduatedfootball field 30 is displayed. A simulated ball 32 having a pointer 34attached thereto is slidingly mounted in a track 36 running the lengthof the field. The players move the ball after each play to indicate thefield position of the offensive team. An additional track 38 is providedrunning parallel to the football field. An indicator 40 is slidinglypositioned in track 38. Indicator 40 includes a pair of spaced pointerswhich are scaled to the graduations of field 30 to represent yards. Byappropriately moving indicator 40 along track 38, the players areconstantly aware of yards necessary to be gained by the offensive teamto achieve a first down.

The downs are counted by a pointer 42 pivotally mounted to the board.Similarly, the quarters of the game are recorded by a pivotally mountedpointer 44.

The score ofthe game is maintained by two pairs of discs 46 and 48 whichare rotatably mounted to the board beneath its top surface. Numerals areimprinted about the circumferential edge of the upper surface of thediscs. A pair of windows 50 and 52 are provided in the board to exposeportions of the periphery ofdisc pairs 46 and 48, respectively. Byappropriate manipulation of the discs, the game score is exposed throughthese windows.

lt has been found that the number of plays which can be run in an actual60-minute football game is reasonably constant. Therefore, in order toapproximate an actual game, a 60- minute clock" is provided on the boardof FIG. 6. The clock" may be graduated in accordance with the averagenumber of plays which may be expected in an actual game. After eachsimulated play, a rotatably mounted pointer 54 is advanced onegraduation. Of course, the game can also be played using any number ofplays agreed to by the players.

Now that the structure of the game has been described, the manner ofplaying it will be outlined. This can best be accomplished by settingout the rules of the game.

The determination of which player receives the ball at the beginning ofthe game is made by the flip ofa coin or the roll of dice. For thekickoff, the player X representing the kicking team rolls the dice andrelates the roll count to chart 28 of HO. 6. Assume, for example, thatplayer X rolls 8. Referring to the chart it can be seen that the kickofffrom player Xs 40 yard line travels 56 yards to player Ys 4 yard line.Ball 32 is slid along track 36 to the 4 yard line. Player Y then rollsthe dice. Assuming he rolls 6, the chart 28 indicates a kickoff returnof l7 yards bringing the ball out to Ys 21 yard line. Ball 32 isappropriately moved to this position; indicator 40 is positioned alongtrack 38 to display that player Y must progress to the 3l yard line fora first down; and pointer 54 is adjusted to indicate completion ofaplay.

Player Y then prepares for his first play from scrimmage. Taking note ofhis field position, Y selects one of the many offensive play cards athis disposal, and he conceals the play from X by masking card 20 withthe master card 18. This sandwich is then inserted within housing 10with the printed surface of card 18 exposed. Player Y then positions 1 1discs 24 on the top of sheet 16 in registry with l l of the circles oncard 18. Seven ofthe discs must be placed above seven ofthe nine circlesadjacent the line of scrimmage 22, and four discs must be placed abovefour of the remaining eight circles representing possible backfieldpositions. In order to permit player X to subsequently select adefensive alignment which is capable of being keyed to the selectedoffensive play, player Y must make certain that the ball carrier or thepass receiver in the selected play is covered by a disc.

After player Y sets his offensive, player X places his ll defensivepieces 26 on sheet 16 above squares on card 18 in 2. only three piecesmay be positioned in the deep secondary (positions D-l5 through D-20);

3. a piece can be played at position D-l5 or D-l6, but not at bothsimultaneously;

4. a piece can be played at position D-l9 or D-20, but not at bothsimultaneously;

5. a piece can be played at the cornerback position D! or at the blitzsquare in front of D1, but not at both simultaneously; and

6. a piece can be played at the cornerback position D-9 or at the blitzsquare in front of D-9, but not at both simultaneously.

To introduce additional variety to the present game, the defensivepieces 26 are accorded differing strengths and capabilities by the useof appropriate symbols on the pieces. A piece with a zero therein hasthe capability of stopping the ball carrier at the point of contact,whereas a piece bearing a two denotes that the ball carrier can move twoadditional yards beyond contact before he is downed. Another piece isprovided with a star which indicates that this defensive piece can stopa ball carrier on contact. Such a piece is the only one which can alsointercept a pass. A still further piece carries an asterisk. This pieceprovides three functions:

I. it cannot make a tackle or knock down a pass;

2. under certain conditions it causes a fumble (this will be describedhereinafter); and

3. it can participate in a blitz (which procedure will also be developedbelow).

Another piece marked with the letter P provides an opportunity for apenalty to be called. When this piece makes initial contact with theball carrier, a penalty has occurred. The play is completed and then thedice are rolled to determine the nature of the penalty as dictated bythe appropriate column of chart 28.

After the defensive player X has set his defense, Y withdraws the mastercard 18 from housing 10 leaving the offensive play card 20 intact.Removal of card 18 is facilitated by a tab 56 mounted at the edge ofcard 18. The unmasking of card 20 exposes to the players the selectedoffensive play and defensive alignment, and the success of the playbecomes apparent by tracing the path of the ball carrier, whether he isa runner or a pass receiver, to the point of first contract with adefensive player.

As illustrations of actual plays, the offensive cards shown in FIGS. 4and 5 will be discussed. it will be recalled that following thekickoffthe ball was returned to Ys 2l yard line. As the first play fromscrimmage, assume Y has selected the sweep illustrated in FIG. 4.

[f the defensive player X has positioned a piece 26 at the D-9cornerback position, the path ofthe ball carrier intersects thisposition first. The numeral four on play card 20 adjacent defensiveposition D-9 indicates that the defensive man makes Contact with theball carrier four yards beyond the line of scrimmage. The point ofcontact would be the 25 yard line. The actual point where the ballcarrier is considered downed is the point where contact is made plus anynumeral shown on the piece 26 covering D-9. lf instead ofa number thepiece 26 at D-9 has a star, the ball carrier is considered to be stoppedat the contact point. An asterisk on piece 26 at D9 means that thatdefensive player has been unable to hold the runner. Should the piece atD-9 carry the letter P, a penalty situation exists. The dice are rolled,and reference is made to chart 28 to determine the nature of thepenalty. For example, a roll of three indicates that the defense wasoffside on the play and the offensive player Y has the option of takingthe penalty and the resultant five yard gain, or refusing the penaltyand taking whatever the ball carrier has gained on the play.

In the case where player X has positioned a piece on the blitz square infront of position D9, the heavy solid line on card 20 indicates that thecornerback has succeeded in making contact with the ball carrier shownin FIG. 4 two yards behind the line of scrimmage. The point where therunner is brought down is, of course, dependent on the symbol on thedefensive piece 26 occupying the blitz position.

offensive play card.

If there is no defensive piece on or the blitz position in front of D-9,the ball carrier of the FlG. 4 play can only be- 1 brought down by therebeing a defensive piece at D-20 which,

as indicated in FIG. 4, is nine yards beyond the line of scrimadded tothat shown at the end ofplay. However, since not all the possibilitiesin the breakaway column of FIG. t3 are gains,

the offensive player has the option of refusing to roll the dice andsimply accepting the last numberof yards indicated on the Thepossibility of a fumble is presented by including in the ballcarrierspath on' certain play cards a square in registry with one of thedefensive positions, "the square having an asterisk therein. Ifdefensive player has placed a piece 26 bear-' ing an asterisk over sucha square, and if this defensive position is the first in the ballcarrier's path, a fumble occurs. The offensive player then rolls thedice and refers to the fumble column on chart 28 in FIG. 6 to determinewhether the offenthe roll of the dice is 4, the defensive team recoversat their opponents 23 yard line.

As stated previously, the offensiveplayer is obliged to position a disc24' over the ball carrier before the defensive player selectshis'defensive alignment. In the case of a running play, failure of theoffensive player to do so isinterpreted as a fumble at the line ofscrimmage, and the dice are rolled as just described to determine whichteamrecovers the fumble and where.

On all pass plays, such as that'shownin FIG. 5, the open square on playcard 20 indicates the point of possible completion, interception orknockdown ofthe pass, andthe numeral next to the square denotes thedistance from the line of scrimmage to the open square. All defensivepieces 26, with the exceptions of those bearing a star or an asterisksymbol, are considered to have knocked down thepass if they arepositioned on transparent sheet 16 directly above the open square. Ifthe piece 26 hearing a star is so position dan interception occurs.Should the piece carrying the asterisk be over the open square, or ifthe square is not covered, the pass is completed, and the pass receivercontinues until his path is covered by a defensive piece. If nodefensive piece isencountered, the play is considered as a breakaway.Thegain in such circumstances is determined in the same manner asdescribed with'respect to running plays. v

In the event that the offensive p layertneglects to place a disc 24above the position of the pass receiver is the chosen play, thequarterback'is assumedto have grounded the ball intentionally, and anautomatic penalty of fiveyards from the line of scrimmage and the lossof a down is assessed against the offensive team.

Should the open square on a pass play card 20 be covered by thedefensive piece 26 bearinga star, the pass, as stated previously, isintercepted. The defensive player then rolls the dice and refers tochart 28 on FIG. to determine the number of yards the interception isreturned.

In an actual football game an important defense against a pass is theblitz. This is an attempt'to trap the passer in his own backfield beforehe can release the ball. Already described has been a blitz by acornerback, this blitz having resulted in the penetration of theoffensive tearn'sbackfield to contact a runner before he reached theline of scrimmage. However, in addition. to the possibility of a blitzby'either cornerback, the present game provides four other-blitz plays.In these four cases the defense must blitz with two pieces 26 placedside by side. Pieces placed above squares D -2 and D3, D-4 and D-5,

D-5 and D-6, and D-7 and D-8 oncard 18, as shown in FIG. 1, eachconstitute a blitz while pieces placed above 0-3 and D-4, and D-6 andD-7 are not blitzes. A blitz is successful when the defensive alignmentconforms with an offensive play vulnerable to a blitz. For example inthe pass play shown'in FIG. 5, the positioning of defensive pieces aboveD-5 and D-6 of card 18 would result in the successful blitz of thequarterback as indicated in heavy solid lines on card 20 of FIG. 5. Theloss on the play is twice the combined total of the numbers printed onthe defensive pieces involved in the blitz. The asterisk and starsymbolsare considered to be zeros, as is the letter P. However, the latterindicates a penalty on the play, the nature of the penalty beingdetermined as herein before explained. A limitation on the employment ofthe blitz is that the defense may not simultaneously blitz frompositions D-2 and D-3 and from positions D-' 7'and' D-8.-This is toinsure that passes are possible under all conditions.

The foregoing discussion of running and passing plays encompasses by farthe majority of playsiactually experienced in a football game. As can beseen, such plays from scrimmage challenge both the offensive anddefensive player inasmuch as neither can know with certainty what toexpect from the other. The game thereby achieves the situation presentin an actual game wherein opponents must set their formations inaccordance with the circumstances o'fjthe moment and by employing soundfootball strategy.

The more infrequent plays of the game, such as punts, punt returns,kickoffs and kickoff returns are determined by chance in accordance withthe rollof dice and use of chart 28 of FIG. 6. On kickoffs that travelinto the end zone, the defensive player may elect to take the ball onthe 20-yard line instead-of running it back, and on pants he may elect afair catch" to take the ball at the point of reception rather thanattempting a runback.

Also for field goals and extra point attempts the dice and chart 28 areused todetermine the distance and accuracy of each kick. Short fieldgoals may be returned, the return yard age being governed by the puntreturn'column.

An onside kick also forms part of the game. In attempting this play, thekicker states his intention and rolls the dice. The roll countrepresents the number of yards the ball travels. If it is less than 10yards, the receiving team "automatically takes possession of the ball atthe 40 plus dice total yard line of the kicking team. If the roll countis '10 or more, the kicker again rolls the dice and checks the fumblecolumn in chart 28 of FIG. 6 to determine which team gains possession.The kicking team is considered as the offensive team under suchcircumstances.

The structure disclosed herein is an example of an arrangement in' whichthe inventive features'of this disclosure may be utilized, and it willbecome apparent to one skilled in the art that certain modifications maybe made within the spirit of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

Iclaim: P

l. A football game comprising:

a plurality of offensive play cards each card having an offensive playpattern thereon;

a master card having marked areas to represent possible defensivealignments, at least one of said areas being keyed to the offensive playpattern of a selected play card when the master card is superimposed onsaid selected card; 7

means for supporting the master card in superimposed relationship with aselected play card ina manner permitting said master card to bewithdrawn from such relationship;

a transparent sheet positioned adjacent said master card on the oppositeside of the master card from the selected play card when the master cardis superimposed on the play card; and

a plurality of pieces adapted to be placed on the opposite side of thesheet from the master card in registry with selected ones of the markedareas. 7

2. A football game as set forth in claim 1, further comprisingadditional marked areas on the master card representing possibleoffensive alignments, at least one of said areas being keyed to theoffensive play of said selected play card when the master card issuperimposed on the selected card; and additional pieces adapted to beplaced on the opposite side of the sheet from the master card inregistry with selected ones of the additional marked areas. 3. Afootball game as set forth in claim 1, wherein said supporting meansincludes a substantially rectangular base portion and a wall extendingupwardly from the base along three of its edges, said transparent sheetbeing secured to said wall in spaced relationship with said base.

4. A football game as set forth in claim 1, wherein said supportingmeans includes a substantially rectangular base portion and a wallextending upwardly from the base along three of its edges, saidtransparent sheet being secured to said wall in spaced relationship withsaid base, the game further comprising:

additional marked areas on the master card representing possibleoffensive alignments, at least one of said areas being keyed to theoffensive play of said selected play card when the master card issuperimposed on the selected card; and additional pieces adapted to beplaced on the opposite side of the sheet from the master card inregistry with selected ones of the additional marked areas.

